Alleged N2.5bn fraud: Bring NBC DG on stretcher, judge orders

The Federal High Court in Abuja, has ordered that the Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission, Modibbo Kawu, who has been accused of fraud to the tune of N2.5bn, should be brought to court on April 17, 2019, “even if he has to be on a stretcher”.

Justice F.O. Giwa gave the ruling after Kawu’s lawyer, A.U. Mustapha, told the court that his client had been admitted to the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Kwara State, and could not come to court.

Mustapha presented a medical certificate to the court to back the claim, adding that Kawu, who underwent a major surgery 10 years ago, was admitted to the hospital due to issues arising from the operation.

The NBC was to be arraigned alongside Lucky Omoluwa and Dipo Onifade, Chairman of Pinnacle Communications Limited, and the Chief Operating Officer, over their alleged complicity in the mismanagement of the N2.5bn seed grant for the Digital Switch-Over programme of the Federal Government

Mustapha said, “He is in the hospital at the moment. He had a major surgery 10 years ago and I have a medical report from the University of Ilorin showing why he cannot be here. I ask for adjournment pending when he will be well enough to come to court.”

However, counsel for the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission, Henry Emore, did not oppose the plea for adjournment but asked the court to note the maximum number of times adjournment can be granted based on the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015.

Justice Giwa in her ruling adjourned the matter till April 17, 2019 for arraignment. She also told the defence counsel to produce Kawu on the said date even if it means bringing him to the court on a stretcher.

She said, “You must ensure that your client is in court even if he has to be on a stretcher. I’m agreeing to this adjournment taking into cognisance his health issues, but the trial needs to go on, you must ensure he is in court next time.”

The judge ordered the ICPC to investigate the medical certificate.

Copyright PUNCH.

All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.